NJ names 2013 reward schools

Anthony Schaible, assistant superintendent of the Monmouth County Vocational District, and Biotechnology High School principal Linda Eno observe an 11th grade biology lab.

The state Department of Education this month released its 2013 list of reward schools, those schools that have shown outstanding achievement or growth in the last three years.

Monmouth County reward schools are: Communications High School, High Technology High School, Marine Academy of Science and Technology, Academy of Allied Health and Science, Avon Elementary School, and Biotechnology High School, so designated for high performance.

Ocean County reward schools are: Bay Head Elementary School and the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Sciences. Bay Head and MATES also received their designations for high performance, according to the state.

But Education Commissioner Chris Cerf’s 57 Reward Schools are, for the most part, located in affluent communities or are schools with high achieving students enrolled through selective screening, according to the Education Law Center.

According to the center:

31 schools are from the state’s wealthiest districts.

14 schools are selective county vocational high schools that admit students on the basis of test scores and other indicators of academic achievement.

5 schools are from middle wealth districts.

7 schools are from high poverty districts. Of those, four are urban middle or high schools with selective admissions (McNair Academy and Infinity Institute in Jersey City and American History High and Science Park in Newark); two are elementary schools housing Elizabeth’s gifted and talented programs (Terence C. Reilly and William F. Halloran); and one is a charter school (Robert Treat Academy in Newark, which was investigated for testing irregularities in 2012, and enrolls far fewer low-income, special education, and English Language Learners than the Newark Public Schools).

Says ELC Executive Director David Sciarra: “The Commissioner is rewarding schools that succeed because they serve students in affluent communities, carefully screen students based on prior achievement, and minimize the number of students with the greatest educational needs. Commissioner Cerf should explain how this recipe for success is relevant to schools serving high concentrations of poor and bilingual students, students with disabilities, and students at risk of academic failure.”

The state in January released its list of priority schools, the state’s lowest performing, and focus schools, those schools with the highest achievement gaps or lowest-performing subgroups, such as special needs students or English language learners.

Asbury Park Middle School was named a priority school for being among the state’s lowest performing schools. In Ocean County, Lakewood High School was named a priority school.

In Monmouth County, focus schools are: Asbury Park High School for a low graduation rate; Freehold Intermediate School, Howell Township Memorial Middle School, Pine Brook School and Red Bank Middle School for a high achievement gap, and Keansburg’s Joseph R. Bolger Middle School for a low subgroup performance.

Lakewood’s Clifton Avenue Grade School, Ella G. Clarke Elementary School, and Lakewood Middle School all were named focus schools for being among districts with the lowest performance among a subgroup.

The state last year established seven Regional Achievement Centers statewide aimed at helping administrators and faculty turn these schools around.

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About Alesha Williams Boyd

Alesha Williams Boyd is wife and mom to a family of six. She's covered New Jersey schools and communities since 2005 for the Asbury Park Press and is New Jersey correspondent for USA TODAY. Follow her on twitter: @aleshaboydAPP.

4 Responses to NJ names 2013 reward schools

I find it interesting that the only public school in Monmouth County is the Avon Elementary School. All the rest are county schools whose budgets are not reviewed or voted on by the electorate, and they essentially have unlimited funds. Do we have NO public high schools deserving recognition?

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Alesha Williams BoydAlesha Williams Boyd is wife and mom to a family of six. She's covered New Jersey schools and communities since 2005 for the Asbury Park Press and is New Jersey correspondent for USA TODAY. Follow her on twitter: @aleshaboydAPP.E-mail Alesha

Amanda OglesbyAmanda Oglesby writes about education and has covered Ocean and Monmouth counties for six years. She's a mom, a Rutgers University graduate, and an Ocean County native.E-mail Amanda

Francesca CocchiNewsroom intern Francesca Cocchi, 19, is a rising sophomore at Villanova University, where she studies Interdisciplinary Humanities in the honors program and writes for The Villanovan newspaper. She lives with her family in Ocean Township, NJ. Follow her on Twitter: @FNCocchiE-mail Francesca

Shari PutermanShari Puterman is the assistant regional features editor, proud mommy to 2-year-old Dylan and a lifetime Jersey Girl living in Matawan.
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